Maakers and Yakkers “DO” Shetland Wool Week!
AHS Maakers and Yakkers had a brilliant time at Shetland Wook Week in September. This event was a 10 day celebration of Shetland wool, knitting skills, knitwear and all the associated industries. Over the past seven years this has grown into an internationally acclaimed event with people coming from all over the world to attend. This year’s Wool Week was the biggest yet, attracting over 400 visitors to Shetland.
The AHS maakers had a busy week – which started with them participating in the Fashion Show at the Clickimin. This saw them on stage at the opening ceremony modelling various garments they had made. Some members wore their hoodies which went down a storm with lots of queries from visiting knitters on where they could buy one for themselves.
On Monday night the group went along to the Textile Museum to knit with the tourists before heading to Mareel for their tea and more knitting. Then it was on to Ella Gordon’s talk on Being a Knitter in Shetland. The girls got a special mention in Carol Christensen’s introduction and by Ella herself, who is a former pupil of AHS.
Tuesday night the maakers headed for the Bridge End Outdoor Centre where they stayed all night. The hosted a “Tak Your Sock” night at the Centre and 30 knitters attended with ages ranging from 12-92 years old! Everybody was knitting and there was a great selection of tea and homebakes.
Up early on Wednesday morning the girls then headed to Hoswick Visitor Centre where Elizabeth Johnson and very kindly offered to give them an introduction to Spinning. This was one of the highlights of the week and everybody managed to spin enough to make a small “hank” (skein) which they then took home. Jayden washed and dried her hank and turned it into a small ball of wool which she then knitted into a small sample.
After having a lovely picnic lunch down at Hoswick beach the maakers then headed up to Lerwick to join other knitters at the “Hub” which was situated this year in the Gadderie at the Shetland Museum.
By Wednesday night most knitters went home early for a lie down but Jayden and Tamsin were so keen they attended the knitting session at the Library on Wednesday night and the night held at the Scalloway Museum on the Thursday night.
Various members of the group attended the Hub at the weekend, and the Teas in Tingwall on Sunday afternoon. One Norwegian knitter introduced herself to Tamzin and Jayden (having recognised them in their hoodies!) and gave them a signed copy of a book she had written on Norwegian Knitting. The girls were absolutely delighted with this and vow to make something from the book, take a photograph and get back in touch with the author.
